Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
COST, Kost, Coust, n. Also coast.
1. “Duty paid in kind as distinguished from that paid in money” (Sc. 1911 S.D.D., coust; Ork. 1825 Jam.2; Cai.9 1939).
2. “Sustenance given to a servant in place of money” (Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl.).Ork. 1825 Jam.2:
I got so much money in wages, besides my cost, . . . [e.g.] a certain quantity of meal per week.
†Combs.: cost-ale, -bread, “payments in kind made to the hired fishermen at the Midshingle fishings on the Dee” (Abd. a.1724 Rickart MSS. (per W. Walker)).Abd. 1701 Abd. Jnl. N. & Q. VI. 112, 184:
Twelve shillings 6d Scots I alloued him for coast ale for season 1701. . . . For a cost of bread to the Midchingle 5⅓ shil.
3. “Bread, provision, means of sustenance” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.); in combs. boga-kost, barley-bread, and korka-kost, oaten bread (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).
[O.Sc. cost, coist, in Ork.: victuals or farm-produce as a medium of payment for rent or dues, from 1503 (D.O.S.T.), late O.N. kostr, victuals, provisions, food (Zoëga), from M.L.Ger., O.Fris. kost, id., from Med. Lat. costa, id. (Franck).]
